Cattle
Drive Map
There is a good reason why cowboys are called cowboys.
Historically, their job was to drive cattle across different regions of
this country. Some cattle drives led cows away from cold weather or toward
water-sources -- other trails led to a darker fate. The cowboys and
their cattle followed long, dangerous trails through the mountains and
pastures of Colorado, Arkansas and Wyoming. Learn more about their routes
and experiences.
The History of
Cattle Brands
Although a cow's mom may disagree, most cows do look alike. It's
not easy for cattle ranchers to differentiate among hundreds of animals
that are basically the same color,
size and smell. As a result, ranchers have developed a branding system in
which specific "trademarks" are burned into the flesh of their
cattle. Discover the history and meaning of cattle brands.
National Cowboy and Western
History Museum
Now this is not your usual museum. Here you'll find a gallery of
18th-century guns and ammunition, remnants from rodeos, a Western
entertainment gallery and plenty of Native American artifacts. Take a
virtual tour of the National Cowboy Museum and learn how wild the West
truly was.
Casey Tibbs Foundation
South Dakota’s own legendary cowboy, Casey Tibbs, comes to life
at this site featuring his life’s story and the story of Mattie
Goff-Newcombe, world champion trick rider who has ties to South Dakota.
Cowboys
(From
an episode of The West from PBS)
In the 1800’s cowboys herded cattle to the railheads to ship the
cattle to eastern markets. Read about their hard life on the dusty cattle
trails.
Hat History
Who invented the cowboy hat? Why were they worn? How are they
made? You’ll find answers to these questions about a cowboy icon at this
site.
The History of
the Cowboy
The first cowboys came from Mexico. They were men who rode on
horses and took care of herds of cattle. Known as vaqueros, they moved
their cattle north into America to graze. American people watched the
vaqueros and began to copy them. This is the beginning of cowboy history.
Cowboys/Vacqueros – Origins
of the First American Cowboys
The cowboy culture is a long integral part of America's history
and identity and one that is ever-changing. Discover the history of the
American cowboy at this site.
William F.
Cody (Buffalo Bill)
One of the most colorful figures of the Old West became the best
known spokesman for the New West. Read about Buffalo Bill at this site. |
Language Arts